Category Archives: Tropicana Entertainment

Irene, you jezebel!

“You come, you stay, you go/It really doesn’t matter/You’ve done it all before/By now they’ll know the pattern.” — ABBA OK, so Benny & Bjorn were writing about a gal named Elaine not a hurricane called Irene. Although the storm … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sheldon Adelson, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | Comments Off on Irene, you jezebel!

Plaza & Riviera: Cheap new wine in old bottles

It’s an index of the desperation of local media to have something — anything — new to cover on the casino front that the slightest murmur from the Plaza was guaranteed to generate coverage. Plaza PR peeps did a masterful … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Architecture, Cosmopolitan, Current, Dining, Downtown, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Riviera, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, TV | 7 Comments

Hilton: worse than it looks

In the cold light of day (i.e., Chris Sieroty‘s Review-Journal coverage), the situation at the Las Vegas Hilton appears still more dire … if such a thing is possible. Remember that roughly a third of the LVH is owned by … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Economy, Goldman Sachs, Lake Tahoe, Laughlin, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Sheldon Adelson, stiff?

Why would a man whose company shells out $2.5 million a year for a personal security detail balk at paying an extra hundred grand? (Las Vegas Sands has an interesting defense: We didn’t break the law … and, if we … Continue reading

Posted in Cosmopolitan, Economy, Harry Reid, Macau, Regulation, Singapore, Station Casinos, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 1 Comment

Frosty spring on the Boardwalk; Tortoises vs. hares in Pennsylvania

Dennis Gomes‘ comeback trail at Resorts Atlantic City (left) finally hit a wall in May. The recovering casino was 4% off last year’s pace, although that’s above-average performance in market that took another thwack last month, down 9%. The feeble … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, George Maloof, Harrah's, Neil Bluhm, Pennsylvania, Racinos, The Strip, Tilman Fertitta, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on Frosty spring on the Boardwalk; Tortoises vs. hares in Pennsylvania

Illinois: How much worse can it get?

OK, the 9% dropoff in Illinois gambling dollars last month looks worse than it is because it mainly reflects the flood-enforced closure of Harrah’s Metropolis (left, -77%). All other casinos were down an aggregate 3%, and it didn’t much matter … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Bally Technologies, Boyd Gaming, Cordish Co., Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, International, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Pinnacle Entertainment, Technology, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 8 Comments

After the flood; New captains at Tropicana Entertainment

What used to be the Horizon riverboat in Vicksburg is back in business as Grand Station (no relation to Station Casinos, in case you were wondering). While nearby riverboats owned by Neil Bluhm and Ameristar Casinos rode out the high … Continue reading

Posted in Ameristar, Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Dennis Gomes, Harrah's, Indiana, Marketing, Mississippi, Neil Bluhm, Penn National, Station Casinos, Tropicana Entertainment | Comments Off on After the flood; New captains at Tropicana Entertainment

Herbst Gaming: new name, familiar faces

No, the company hasn’t been dissolved. But with the various Herbst boys having been run off — plus the negative brand equity created by their eponymous casino firm’s financial collapse — new ownership decided it’s time for a new moniker. … Continue reading

Posted in Aristocrat, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, Current, Donald Trump, Downtown, Economy, Entertainment, Harrah's, Herbst Gaming, history, IGT, Illinois, International, MGM Mirage, Regulation, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Johnny Casino, thug; Truce at the Trop; The T-Word

Although the Mob may have left Las Vegas, its strong-arm tactics are still in use. Respected casino architect Paul Steelman found that out when he wouldn’t give a job to John Ensign‘s borderline-illiterate former chief of staff, Doug Hampton. Drunk … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Culinary Union, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Harrah's, Harry Reid, Kansas, MGM Mirage, Penn National, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 3 Comments

Has Illinois finally bottomed out? Trop shakeup; Big markdown on Trump

Sorry to disappoint, but we won’t have the answer until June–August, three straight months with the same number of weekend days as last year. By that point we’ll know whether April‘s 2% increase was the beginning of a trend. Last … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, George Maloof, Harrah's, Illinois, Indiana, Maryland, MGM Mirage, Missouri, Penn National, Phil Ruffin, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment | 3 Comments

Nazarian totally busted …

… by Chuck Monster, who’s learned that SBE Entertainment‘s deal with MGM Resorts International includes dumping the Club Sahara loyalty program database into the lion’s “low roller walled garden,” Circus Circus Players Club. Which is pretty much what S&G expected … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Columbia Sussex, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Lake Tahoe, MGM Mirage, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Sahara, The Strip, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 6 Comments

Why Trump won’t run

Two words: Mob ties. Yes, Donald “100 Percent Clean” Trump did business — repeatedly — with a man he believed (or, best case, seriously feared) to be the murderer of Jimmy Hoffa. He also employed an individual identified by U.S. … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, California, Current, Donald Trump, Economy, Florida, history, Isle of Capri, New York, Politics, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, The Mob, The Strip, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Fire sale in Vicksburg; Win or loss for Gettysburg?

Update: An earlier version contained a gross error/AARP moment on Yr. Humble Blogger’s part. I have amended the story so that it contains greater “factiness.” Also, fellow Canadian firm Gateway Casinos is the likely operator-to-be. In a curt announcement, Tropicana … Continue reading

Posted in Bally Technologies, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, history, Indiana, International, Isle of Capri, Massachusetts, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Racinos, Regulation, Slot routes, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 5 Comments

Why is this man smiling? (And other Case Bets)

Because Sen. Harry Reid‘s decision not to importune lenders on behalf of Fontainebleau (unlike CityCenter) means he steered clear of a widening circle of litigation and recrimination, that’s why. Among those in the hot seat are hapless James Packer and … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Fontainebleau, Harrah's, Harry Reid, James Packer, Regulation, Sports, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 6 Comments

The North Strip Story and Salvation Plan

Guest blogger Jeff in OKC returns, his previous dispatch on Downtown’s Western Casino having proven a smash hit; its fans included Western manager Anthony Santo himself. During his latest visit, he concentrated upon the north end of the Las Vegas … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, Cloverfield monster, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Fontainebleau, Goldman Sachs, Harrah's, MGM Mirage, Steve Wynn, The Strip, Transportation, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 10 Comments

What makes Sammy run?

Scarcely was the ink dry on Sahara owner Sammy “The Naz” Nazarian‘s announcement of the property’s May 16 closure than rumors began to fly about his endgame for the old gal. At S&G, we’re pretty certain that “The Naz” (™ … Continue reading

Posted in Alex Yemenidjian, Boyd Gaming, California, Carl Icahn, CityCenter, Colony Capital, Columbia Sussex, Cosmopolitan, Current, Economy, Fontainebleau, Herbst Gaming, M Resort, Marketing, MGM Mirage, Penn National, Regulation, Riviera, Sahara, Sheldon Adelson, Tamares Group, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, TV, Wall Street | 9 Comments

Good news from an unexpected source

Atlantic City hit the big 3-0 in February: 30 straight months on revenue declivity, says J.P. Morgan (31, according to Wells Fargo). However, the rate of decline (1.4%) was the smallest since April of last year. With Genting Bhd‘s racino … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Colony Capital, Current, Dennis Gomes, Donald Trump, Economy, Genting, Harrah's, New York, Ohio, Penn National, Racinos, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 1 Comment

Gary Loveman … visionary?

At the risk of pumping additional hydrogen into his already zeppelin-sized ego, allow me to suggest that Caesars Entertainment CEO Gary Loveman, PhD. is actually onto something. But first would somebody clue him in that there has been casino gambling … Continue reading

Posted in Architecture, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Florida, G2E, Harrah's, Jack Binion, Marketing, Neil Bluhm, Ohio, Penn National, Pennsylvania, Sheldon Adelson, Slot routes, Taxes, The Mob, The Strip, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment, Wall Street | 2 Comments

Let it (not) snow!; BP screws casinos

With Atlantic City currently in white-out mode, casino executives must be studying next weekend’s forecast and hoping that it holds true. A few days of above-freezing temperatures ought to give the Boardwalk a chance to melt and shovel its way … Continue reading

Posted in Atlantic City, Boyd Gaming, Carl Icahn, Current, Dennis Gomes, Economy, Entertainment, Environment, Harrah's, Macau, Marketing, Mississippi, Reno, Sheldon Adelson, Singapore, Tourism, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments

Betting on crime; Anniversary in Indiana

Last week’s big chip heist at Bellagio may have left MGM Resorts International with a smidgen of egg on its face but it’s not as though others in the gambling industry have failed to see the opportunity to make money. … Continue reading

Posted in California, Carl Icahn, Columbia Sussex, Current, Economy, Entertainment, Horseracing, Indiana, Internet gambling, MGM Mirage, New York, Oscar Goodman, Racinos, Taxes, The Strip, Tourism, Tribal, Tropicana Entertainment | 2 Comments